Veganism | Plant-Based Eating is Affordable

Introduction

“Veganism isn’t affordable,” says someone who has only price-compared vegan luxury items, frozen pizzas, and vegetables that are basically handed to you directly from the hands that pulled them from the ground. What these people don’t realize is that veganism isn’t just affordable, it’s actually cheaper than eating flesh and secretions, especially as a plant-based grocery list's popularity increases.

Supply and Demand

Capitalism—and most economic systems in which the price is not controlled by an entity which lacks a detailed understanding of the markets—has paved the path for affordable, healthy eating. Not even a few years ago, eating organic was a pipe dream for many middle and lower-class citizens. It was too expensive, required going to numerous stores and farmer’s markets, and was simply unattainable. Veganism, as well as a general push for healthy lifestyles, has made organic, healthy food more affordable by increasing the demand for these products.

As demand for healthy products increases and demand for unhealthy products decreases, the prices will fluctuate to match. While the cost of milk alternatives remains stable and even drops in some places, the cost of dairy products has skyrocketed, leading to a crisis in the industry (a crisis which has led to bailouts and “Februdairy” campaigns.

Not only is healthy living now affordable, but it’s also becoming more affordable as time goes on and more people make the change. It won’t be long before the demand for healthy, organic food is so high that the price of eating these foods is a drop in a bucket compared to purchasing animal flesh and secretions.

Buy in Bulk

One way I have saved a significant amount of money on my food is by purchasing that food in bulk. My Costco membership is 120$/year and I get cash back that usually makes up for the cost (and if it doesn’t make up for the cost, they’ll cut the original cost in half and give me 60$ back)! I make a Costco trip once every two months or so and pick up a car full of pasta, canned goods, vegetables, fruits, and milk alternatives. This two month trip typically costs about 250$-300$. That’s less than 150$/mo. for my groceries, which is significantly less than the 300$+/mo. that I paid when I wasn’t vegan.

Nearly everything I buy at Costco is organic, nutrient-dense (particularly on the protein side), and lasts a long time—usually long after that two month period has ended. Let's use milk for comparison between plant-based and animal-based consumption.

Almond milk has a shelf life (unopened) of 3-4 weeks. I consume a lot of it because I use it in shakes, cereal, pasta, homemade vegan cheese, and more. Compare this to the unopened shelf life of dairy milk, which is 5-7 days. Because of the shelf life of dairy milk, you won’t be able to buy it in bulk like I can with almond milk--you’ll likely be heading back to the store every week or so. Me? I’ve got six cartons of almond milk in my fridge right now and will probably just have to head to out in a month to get a couple more cartons before my next bulk trip to Costco.

Buying in bulk saves money and if you’re buying groceries with a long shelf life, it also saves time. While buying in bulk isn’t the only reason that eating vegan is so affordable, it is definitely one of the contributing factors. If you’re vegan or vegan-curious, I strongly recommend checking out stores that offer bulk purchases such as Costco, Sam’s Club, or even Amazon. These options can be a major budget-saver.

You Can’t Afford Not to be Vegan

Even if we operate on the assumption that plant-based groceries are more expensive, you still can’t afford not to be vegan. Because our digestive tract isn’t designed to expel flesh and secretions as quickly as those of carnivores, rotting meat and other animal products sit in our bodies for extended periods of time. The consumption of animals and their secretions leads to indigestion, clogged arteries, and numerous other health problems. If you aren’t paying the price for your flesh-based diet at the grocery store, you’ll be paying it at the hospital.

Conclusion

Veganism is not as expensive as many non-vegans like to claim. They claim it’s a privileged, upper-class luxury that simply isn’t accessible to those who don’t make much money. A four-person household in America will, on average, spend over 700$ per month on groceries. Even if we assume I would be purchasing the exact same quantities of items for three other people, my monthly grocery bill for three additional vegan versions of me would still be over 100$ less than that. Veganism can be affordable if you stop looking at the luxury items (that vegans rarely consume) and start looking at the vegetables, canned goods, and other widely-available staple foods.

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